Anthropic's newly released coding tool, Claude Code, has met a severe issue that has some user systems 'bricked.' The problem arose from a bug in its auto-update function, which, under specific conditions, caused severe system instability and left certain workstations unusable.
The root of the issue lies in the way Claude Code managed system permissions during updates. When installed with 'root' or 'superuser' capabilities, which gave the tool unrestricted system access, the defective commands mistakenly changed access permissions for all vital system files. These files, which are essential for operating system stability, became inaccessible or changed in ways that affected operation. In extreme circumstances, the system became completely unresponsive, requiring extensive recovery efforts.
Users reported the issue to GitHub, describing circumstances in which they had to use a 'rescue instance' to manually correct file permissions and restore their systems. The widespread nature of the problem highlighted worries about the hazards connected with AI-powered development tools, as well as their capacity to work at a deep system level without generating unexpected consequences.
In response to the crisis, Anthropic quickly took action to reduce the consequences. The company removed the faulty update commands from Claude Code, preventing future installations from experiencing the problem. Additionally, they provided a troubleshooting guide to help affected consumers restore their PCs. However, an early error in the guide's link added to the frustration before it was corrected.
While Anthropic's quick response helped contain the damage, the incident raises serious questions about AI deployment, software update integrity, and user security. The event emphasizes the importance of testing, staged rollouts, and robust fallback mechanisms in preventing similar mishaps. Moving forward, both AI developers and users must exercise caution when granting system-level permissions to developing AI tools, ensuring stability and security of priorities in software development.